Togo

Overview

Togo is probably one of the nicest places in Western Africa. Roads are pretty good, distances small, beaches sandy and white, people friendly, hills and mountains waiting to be explored. What else do you need?

The capital city, Lomé is an excellent place to start your trip. Lots of daytrips can be made to Togoville on the borders of Lake Togo or Aneho

When you go north Kpalime and its beautiful hilly surroundings deserve a visit; trekking and hiking in the area is wonderful. Continue further north if you are into hiking. Kara is the place to go. Nearby is Tamberma Valley which has intriguing castle like structures known as Tatas. The national parks of Fazao and Keran offer good opportunities to view wildlife.

History

The Ewes moved into the area, which is now Togo from the Niger river valley between the 12th and 14th centuries. During the 15th and 16th centuries Portuguese explorers and traders visited the coast. For the next 200 years the coastal region was a major raiding center for Europeans in search of slaves earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast."

In an 1884 treaty signed at Togoville Germany declared a protectorate over a stretch of territory along the coast and gradually extended its control inland. Because it became Germany's only self- supporting colony Togoland was known as its model possession. In 1914 Togoland was invaded by French and British forces and fell after brief resistance. Following the war Togoland became a League of Nations mandate divided for administrative purposes between France and the United Kingdom.

After World War II the mandate became a UN trust territory administered by the United Kingdom and France. During the mandate and trusteeship periods Western Togo was administered as part of the British Gold Coast. In 1957 the residents of British Togoland voted to join the Gold Coast as part of the new independent nation of Ghana.

By statute in 1955 French Togo became an autonomous republic within the French union although it retained its UN trusteeship status. A legislative assembly elected by universal adult suffrage had considerable power over internal affairs with an elected executive body headed by a prime minister responsible to the legislature. These changes were embodied in a constitution approved...more